Electro-mechanical surgical device

Abstract

An electro-mechanical surgical device includes: a housing; an elongated shaft extending from the housing, a distal end of the elongated shaft being detachably coupleable to a surgical instrument; at least two axially rotatable drive shafts disposed within the elongated shaft, a distal end of each of the drive shafts being configured to couple with the surgical instrument; a steering cable arrangement, the steering cable arrangement being configured to steer the distal end of the elongated shaft; and a motor system disposed within the housing, the motor system being configured to drive the drive shafts and the steering cable arrangement. A control system may be provided for controlling the motor system. A remote control unit may also be provided for controlling the motor system via the control system. Sensors, such as optical or Hall-effect devices, may be provided for determining the position of the elements of the surgical instrument based on the detected rotation of the drive shafts. A memory unit stores a plurality of operating programs or algorithms, each corresponding to a type of surgical instrument attachable to the electro-mechanical surgical device. The control system reads or selects from the plurality of operating programs or algorithms, the operating program or algorithm corresponding to the type of surgical instrument attached to the electro-mechanical surgical device.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An electro-mechanical surgical device, comprising: 
       a coupling configured to detachably attach to a plurality of types of surgical instruments;  
       a common motor system configured to drive each of the plurality of types of surgical instrument;  
       a first memory unit configured to store a plurality of operating programs, each operating program corresponding to a respective type of surgical instrument; and  
       a control system configured to detect the type of surgical instrument attached to the coupling and to execute the operating program corresponding to the detected type of surgical instrument attached to the coupling, the control system configured to read a data representing the type of the surgical instrument from a second, digital memory unit disposed in the surgical instrument.  
     
     
       2. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the motor system is powered by line current. 
     
     
       3. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a DC power supply configured to power the motor system. 
     
     
       4. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a battery system configured to power the motor system. 
     
     
       5. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a remote control unit configured to communicate with the control system to control the motor system via the control system. 
     
     
       6. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 5 , wherein the remote control unit includes at least one of a wired remote control unit and a wireless remote control unit. 
     
     
       7. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 6 , wherein the wireless remote control unit is configured to communicate with the control system via one of a wireless electromagnetic communications link and a wireless optical communications link. 
     
     
       8. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to select the operating program corresponding to the detected type of surgical instrument from the plurality of operating programs stored in the first memory unit. 
     
     
       9. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first memory unit is configured to permit adding at least one new operating program. 
     
     
       10. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first memory unit is configured to permit deleting at least one operating program. 
     
     
       11. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first memory unit is configured to permit revising at least one operating program. 
     
     
       12. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first memory unit includes a removable memory unit. 
     
     
       13. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first memory unit includes at least one of a random-access memory and a read-only memory. 
     
     
       14. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a display device configured to display at least one message in accordance with at least one of an operation and a status of the electro-mechanical surgical device. 
     
     
       15. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 14 , wherein the display device is configured to display at least one message in accordance with the execution of the operating program. 
     
     
       16. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one indicator device configured to provide an indication of at least one of an operation and a status of the electro-mechanical surgical device. 
     
     
       17. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the at least one indicator devices is a visual indicator device. 
     
     
       18. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the motor system is configured to mechanically drive each type of surgical instrument. 
     
     
       19. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupling is configured to mechanically detachably attach to the plurality of types of surgical instruments. 
     
     
       20. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to automatically detect the type of surgical instrument attached to the coupling. 
     
     
       21. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to automatically execute the operating program corresponding to the detected type of surgical instrument attached to the coupling. 
     
     
       22. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one rotatable drive shaft arranged between the motor system and the coupling, the motor system configured to drive each type of surgical instrument via the drive shaft. 
     
     
       23. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the motor system includes at least one motor configured to drive each type of surgical instrument. 
     
     
       24. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a steering arrangement configured to steer the coupling. 
     
     
       25. An electro-mechanical surgical device, comprising: 
       a coupling configured to detachably attach to a plurality of types of surgical instruments;  
       a common motor system configured to drive each of the plurality of types of surgical instrument;  
       a first memory unit configured to store a plurality of operating programs, each operating program corresponding to a respective type of surgical instrument;  
       a control system configured to detect the type of surgical instrument attached to the coupling and to execute the operating program corresponding to the detected type of surgical instrument attached to the coupling; and  
       a display device configured to display at least one message in accordance with at least one of an operation and a status of the electro-mechanical surgical device;  
       wherein the at least one message is displayable in a selected one of a plurality of languages.  
     
     
       26. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 25 , further comprising a switch device configured to select the one of the plurality of languages. 
     
     
       27. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 26 , wherein the switch device includes a DIP switch. 
     
     
       28. An electro-mechanical surgical device, comprising: 
       a coupling configured to detachably attach to a plurality of types of surgical instruments;  
       a common motor system configured to drive each of the plurality of types of surgical instrument;  
       a first memory unit configured to store a plurality of operating programs, each operating program corresponding to a respective type of surgical instrument;  
       a control system configured to detect the type of surgical instrument attached to the coupling and to execute the operating program corresponding to the detected type of surgical instrument attached to the coupling; and  
       at least one indicator device configured to provide an indication of at least one of an operation and a status of the electro-mechanical surgical device;  
       wherein at least one of the at least one indicator devices is an audio indicator device.  
     
     
       29. An electro-mechanical surgical device, comprising: 
       at least one of a plurality of types of surgical instruments, each surgical instrument including a second memory configured to store a data representing the respective type of surgical instrument;  
       a coupling configured to detachably attach to each surgical instrument;  
       a common motor system configured to drive each surgical instrument;  
       a first memory unit configured to store a plurality of operating programs, each operating program corresponding to a respective type of surgical instrument; and  
       a control system configured to detect the type of surgical instrument attached to the coupling in accordance with the data representing the type of surgical instrument stored in the second memory and to execute the operating program corresponding to the detected type of surgical instrument attached to the coupling.  
     
     
       30. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 29 , wherein the control system is configured to select the operating program corresponding to the detected type of surgical instrument from the plurality of operating programs stored in the first memory unit. 
     
     
       31. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 29 , further comprising a display device configured to display at least one message in accordance with at least one of an operation and a status of the electro-mechanical surgical device. 
     
     
       32. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 31 , wherein the display device is configured to display the at least one message in accordance with the execution of the operating program. 
     
     
       33. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 29 , further comprising at least one indicator device configured to provide an indication of at least one of an operation and a status of the electro-mechanical surgical device. 
     
     
       34. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 33 , wherein at least one of the at least one indicator devices is a visual indicator device. 
     
     
       35. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 29 , wherein the motor system is configured to mechanically drive each surgical instrument. 
     
     
       36. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 29 , wherein the coupling is configured to mechanically detachably attach to each surgical instrument. 
     
     
       37. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 29 , wherein the control system is configured to automatically detect the type of surgical instrument attached to the coupling in accordance with the data representing the type of surgical instrument stored in the second memory. 
     
     
       38. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 29 , wherein the control system is configured to automatically execute the operating program corresponding to the detected type of surgical instrument attached to the coupling. 
     
     
       39. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 29 , further comprising at least one rotatable drive shaft arranged between the motor system and the coupling, the motor system configured to drive the surgical instrument attached to the coupling via the drive shaft. 
     
     
       40. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 29 , wherein the motor system includes at least one motor configured to drive each type of surgical instrument. 
     
     
       41. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 29 , further comprising a steering arrangement configured to steer the coupling. 
     
     
       42. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 29 , wherein the motor system is powered by line current. 
     
     
       43. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 29 , further comprising a DC power supply configured to power the motor system. 
     
     
       44. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 29 , further comprising a battery system configured to power the motor system. 
     
     
       45. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 29 , further comprising a remote control unit configured to communicate with the control system to control the motor system via the control system. 
     
     
       46. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 45 , wherein the remote control unit includes at least one of a wired remote control unit and a wireless remote control unit. 
     
     
       47. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 46 , wherein the wireless remote control unit is configured to communicate with the control system via one of a wireless electro-magnetic communications link and a wireless optical communications link. 
     
     
       48. An electro-mechanical surgical device, comprising: 
       at least one of a plurality of types of surgical instruments, each surgical instrument including a second memory configured to store a data representing the respective type of surgical instrument;  
       a coupling configured to detachably attach to each surgical instrument;  
       a common motor system configured to drive each surgical instrument;  
       a first memory unit configured to store a plurality of operating programs, each operating program corresponding to a respective type of surgical instrument;  
       a control system configured to detect the type of surgical instrument attached to the coupling in accordance with the data representing the type of surgical instrument stored in the second memory and to execute the operating program corresponding to the detected type of surgical instrument attached to the coupling; and  
       a display device configured to display at least one message in accordance with at least one of an operation and a status of the electro-mechanical surgical device;  
       wherein the at least one message is displayable in a selected one of a plurality of languages.  
     
     
       49. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 48 , further comprising a switch device configured to select the one of the plurality of languages. 
     
     
       50. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to  claim 49 , wherein the switch device includes a DIP switch. 
     
     
       51. An electro-mechanical surgical device, comprising: 
       at least one of a plurality of types of surgical instruments, each surgical instrument including a second memory configured to store a data representing the respective type of surgical instrument;  
       a coupling configured to detachably attach to each surgical instrument;  
       a common motor system configured to drive each surgical instrument;  
       a first memory unit configured to store a plurality of operating programs, each operating program corresponding to a respective type of surgical instrument;  
       a control system configured to detect the type of surgical instrument attached to the coupling in accordance with the data representing the type of surgical instrument stored in the second memory and to execute the operating program corresponding to the detected type of surgical instrument attached to the coupling; and  
       at least one indicator device configured to provide an indication of at least one of an operation and a status of the electro-mechanical surgical device;  
       wherein at least one of the at least one indicator devices is an audio indicator device.  
     
     
       52. A method of operating an electro-mechanical surgical device, comprising the steps of: 
       (a) storing a plurality of operating programs in a first memory unit of the electro-mechanical surgical device, each of the operating programs corresponding to a respective type of surgical instrument attachable to the electro-mechanical surgical device via a coupling;  
       (b) attaching a surgical instrument to the coupling of the electro-mechanical surgical device, the attaching step (b) including attaching the surgical instrument to a motor system of the electro-mechanical surgical device;  
       (c) detecting a type of the surgical instrument attached in the attaching step (b), the detecting step (c) including reading data representing the type of the surgical instrument from a second, digital memory unit disposed in the surgical instrument; and  
       (d) selecting one of the plurality of operating programs in accordance with the type of surgical instrument detected in the detecting step (c).  
     
     
       53. The method according to  claim 52 , further comprising the step of executing the operating program selected in the selecting step (d). 
     
     
       54. The method according to  claim 52 , further comprising the step of storing at least one new operating program in the first memory unit after the storing step (a). 
     
     
       55. The method according to  claim 52 , further comprising the step of storing at least one revised operating program in the first memory unit after the storing step (a). 
     
     
       56. The method according to  claim 52 , further comprising the step of displaying at least one message on a display device in accordance with at least one of an operation and a status of the electro-mechanical surgical device. 
     
     
       57. The method according to  claim 52 , further comprising the step of indicating on an indicator device at least one of an operation and a status of the electro-mechanical surgical device. 
     
     
       58. The method according to  claim 52 , wherein the detecting step (c) includes automatically detecting the type of surgical instrument attached in the attaching step (b). 
     
     
       59. The method according to  claim 52 , wherein the selecting step (d) includes automatically selecting the one of the plurality of operating programs in accordance with the type of surgical instrument detected in the detecting step (c). 
     
     
       60. The method according to  claim 52 , further comprising the step of mechanically driving the surgical instrument attached in the attaching step (b). 
     
     
       61. The method according to  claim 52 , further comprising the step of mechanically driving the surgical instrument attached in the attaching step (b) in accordance with the one of the plurality of operating programs selected in the selecting step (d). 
     
     
       62. The method according to  claim 52 , further comprising the step of steering the surgical instrument attached in the attaching step (b). 
     
     
       63. A method of operating an electro-mechanical surgical device, comprising the steps of: 
       (a) storing a plurality of operating programs in a first memory unit of the electro-mechanical surgical device, each of the operating programs corresponding to a respective type of surgical instrument attachable to the electro-mechanical surgical device via a coupling;  
       (b) attaching a surgical instrument to the coupling of the electro-mechanical surgical device, the attaching step (b) including attaching the surgical instrument to a motor system of the electro-mechanical surgical device;  
       (c) detecting a type of the surgical instrument attached in the attaching step (b);  
       (d) selecting one of the plurality of operating programs in accordance with the type of surgical instrument detected in the detecting step (c); and  
       (e) displaying at least one message on a display device in accordance with at least one of an operation and a status of the electro-mechanical surgical device;  
       wherein the at least one message is displayed in the displaying step in one of a plurality of languages.  
     
     
       64. The method according to  claim 63 , further comprising the step of selecting the one of the plurality of languages. 
     
     
       65. A method of operating an electro-mechanical surgical device, comprising the steps of: 
       (a) storing a plurality of operating programs in a first memory unit of the electro-mechanical surgical device, each of the operating programs corresponding to a respective type of surgical instrument attachable to the electro-mechanical surgical device via a coupling;  
       (b) attaching a surgical instrument to the coupling of the electro-mechanical surgical device, the attaching step (b) including attaching the surgical instrument to a motor system of the electro-mechanical surgical device;  
       (c) detecting a type of the surgical instrument attached in the attaching step (b);  
       (d) selecting one of the plurality of operating programs in accordance with the type of surgical instrument detected in the detecting step (c); and  
       (e) displaying at least one message on a display device in accordance with the operating program selected in the selecting step (d).  
     
     
       66. The method according to  claim 65 , wherein the at least one message is displayed in the displaying step in one of a plurality of languages. 
     
     
       67. The method according to  claim 66 , further comprising the step of selecting the one of the plurality of languages. 
     
     
       68. A method of operating an electro-mechanical surgical device, comprising the steps of: 
       (a) storing a plurality of operating programs in a first memory unit of the electro-mechanical surgical device, each of the operating programs corresponding to a respective type of surgical instrument attachable to the electro-mechanical surgical device via a coupling;  
       (b) attaching a surgical instrument to the coupling of the electro-mechanical surgical device, the attaching step (b) including attaching the surgical instrument to a motor system of the electro-mechanical surgical device;  
       (c) detecting a type of the surgical instrument attached in the attaching step (b);  
       (d) selecting one of the plurality of operating programs in accordance with the type of surgical instrument detected in the detecting step (c); and  
       (e) indicating on an indicator device at least one of an operation and a status of the electro-mechanical surgical device;  
       wherein the indicator device includes at least one of an audio indicator device and a visual indicator device.